Chapter 19| Riley's POV

                                    

                                          
*There's a time jump fyi. Like 8 months*
Keely never changed her mind. She never let me so her. Or at least not yet. I've heard from Tyler she's doing pretty good in the mental hospital, but not stable enough to come out. I've also heard from Tyler that Keely's first couple months there were rough. Apparently she and Zoey had this big dramatic thing, and now Zoey refuses to visit her. 
Understandable. Zoey must be mad Keels tried killing herself. Yet again, she says it's my fault. I don't even know. I just feel terrible that my daughter is going through so much. Yes, the twins are experiencing the same thing, but they're 5; they're too young to even understand what's going on. Zoey's smart. The girl can figure everything out with such ease. 
 I still drive Zoey to school sometimes, but it never really goes too well. She usually ends up yelling at me, and I usually end up crying. And sadly that's our normal. It's odd when there's a time she doesn't yell at me, and I don't cry. 
It's hard for me to watch my children grow up without me. Zoey's turning 16 not too far from now. The twins are already 7. And I wasn't there for any of it. 
"At least I have you Norwood." I say looking lovingly at my cat. Yeah, I got a cat. And not any old cat, a disabled rescue 17yr. old cat. It makes me feel like I can do something right instead of fucking my entire family up. 
I reach out to pet him, but he swats my hand away with his one hand. Norwood is classified as disabled because he's missing half an arm. But whatever, I love the old granps cat. 
There's a knock on my front door, so I open it, seeing Abbey, Wyatt's wife, causally on my doorstep. 
"Abbey?" Maybe it's an alien in disguise. 
"Hey Riles. I just wanted to check in on you. May I come in?"
I shrug. "Sure."
Abbey steps in, glancing around the house. Probably surprised at how clean it is. Well, when you've been fired from your job, separated from your wife, have your children living in a different house away from you, and a half blind fragile old man cat, you make sure the house is clean. I like saying it's for Norwood, but really I just need to stay as busy as possible. Or else my mind wanders and when my mind wanders...... it's best not to even think about what happens then. 
"Why exactly are you here Abbey?" I ask making my way back to my kitty cat, sleeping with his eyes open. Norwood's weird like that sometimes. 
"Well, I know what it's like to be the outcast of the family. So I thought you'd maybe want to talk to me?"
I shrug. I have nothing to talk about. So what? My wife tried killing herself, heck she barely missed her goal, refused to see me, my one daughter who know pretty much exactly what's going on keeps telling me what I already know; that it's my fault, my children had to move out because I'm apparently unstable, and then my wife's whole family hates me now. See? Nothing wrong whatsoever. 
"Eh, that's what Norwoods for. Right bud?" Silly little cat didn't answer. Rude. 
"Norwood?" Abbey questions sitting next to me on my couch. 
"Means North Woods. Great name." I say and grin at my cat. 
"Riley, are you seriously ok? Because you got a cat, a dying disabled cat, and you have never ever been a cat person, you are allergic to cats."
"Yea Abs. I'm literally fine. Norwood keeps me company, and he's great company. Plus, I'm not allergic to him."
"I mean, he is a hairless cat, but still that's not my point. My point is I don't think you're fine."
"No, I am. I've probably never been better. My wife hates me, my daughter hates me, my other kids don't even care their dad just magically disappeared, and my wife's family hates me. Why wouldn't I be fine?"
"I'm trying to be serious here Riley."
"So was I Abbey." I say shrugging. "Oh, and also my two family members left moved to Africa just for funzies, leaving their brother who protected them as best as I could when they were being abused."
"You still have your dad though." Abbey reminds me, though I didn't want to be reminded. 
"No. I have this random guy named Robert Trone who somehow knows me. Not a dad. My dad died the moment my mom died."
Abbey randomly hugs me. "I'm so sorry you have to go through all this Riley. I wish there was something we could do. It's just so unfair the situation you all are in."
I realize Abbey's crying when I feel her tears getting on my neck and running down my shirt. Great, another thing I just love! Crying women! Today is the best day I've had all year!!
"And Zoey's struggling so much too! She tries to hide it, but she needs her parents. Zoey needs you Riley, and I think you need her too."
"Zoe's fine without me Abs. She's said it multiple times, to my face. Hell, one time, she even told me I wasn't even her dad, so she hated me even more! Zoey doesn't even know her dad, stupid fucker that he is. If only she just knew! She'd hopefully hate me less, but who knows. Zoey always has valid points and reasons for everything. If she says something, you best believe it because she's got to be right."
Abbey hugs me tighter. "I'm sorry Riley. Hey, if it helps, I'll help you find a job. I can't fix your family, I can't fix you, but I can help. And I will help as much as I can. You're family."
I clear my throat. Stupid tears. I know crying is perfectly fine, crying makes us ourselves, but I'm just tired of crying. I'm tired of everything. Life's not so perfect. 
THE END